Pneumatic-controlled lock for centrifugal-extractor covers.



W. BARTHOLOMEW & F. BALZER.

.UMATIG CONTROLLED LOOK FOR CBNTEIFUGAL EXTRACTOR COVERS. 1,111,010

PNP

Q'PPLIGA'TION FILED TEB.20,1913.

Patented Sept. 139M.

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' APPLICATION-FILED FEB. 20, 1913.

Patented Sept. 22, 191%.

W. BARTHOLOMEW & F. BALZER. I PNEUMATIC GOHTROLLED LOOK FOR GENIRIPUGAL EXTRAGTOR COVERS.

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Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

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Application filed February 26, 1913. Serial No. 749,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM BAR'rHoLo- Maw, a citizen of the United States, and F mrrz BALZER,

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatically-Controlled Looks for Centrifugal-Extractor Covers, .of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates in general tp laundry machinery, and more particularly to a pneumatically actuated lock for retaining the covers of centrifugal extractors in closed position during the rotation of the extractor baskets.

The high speed at which the baskets of centrifugal extractors are rotated renders their use dangerous to careless operators unless such extractors are provided with safety appliances for preventing access to the baskets while they are rotating. In order that such safety devices may fully protect the operators, it is necessary that access should be prevented to the baskets, not only while the power is applied to rotate them, but after the disconnection of the driving power and while the baskets continue to rotate by momentum at dangerous speeds.

The primary object of our invention is to provide centrifugal extractors, and similar machines, with a pneumatically actuated lock for automatically retaining the covers in closed position during the-operation of the machines.

A further object of our invention is to provide centrifugal extractors, or similar machines, with a pneumatically operated lock for automatically retaining the covers closed, not only during the connection of the driving means with the rotating member of the machines, but also during the rotation of such member after the disconnection therefrom of the driving means.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a centrifugal extractor, or a sin1ilar machine, with safety mechanism for protecting the'operator from injury, and which will be comparatively simple in construction and eflicient in use.

Our invention will be more fr lly disclosed hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which- Figure l is a side elevational view; Fig. 2, a 'plan view, parts being broken away; Figs. 3; and 4, detail plan viewsof the means for automatically controlling the valve, the former figure showing the parts in the position they assume when the basket is rotating, and the latter the position of the parts when the basket has ceased to rotate; Fig. 5,

an enlarged vertical section through thelock and air cylinder for actuating the same; Fig. 6, a horizontal section on line 6 6, Fig. #5; Fig. 7, a transverse section on line 7 '7, Fig. 5; and Fig. 8-, an enlarged longitudinal section through the valve mechanism for controlling the su'pplyand exhaust of compressed air to and from the cylinder actuating the lock.

The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A indicates the casing, or curb, of the extractor which is provided with a supporting base B having a platform 12 at the bottom thereof, which may be secured to the floor.

C designates the perforated basket within the casing A which is adapted .to receive the articles from which the water is to be extracted.

D designates a shaft which is suitably connected to the basket C to rotate the same.

d indicates a pulley fixed upon the shaft D and around which passes a belt E. The belt E passes around idler pulleys e and thence around a large pulley F fixed upon a counter-shaft G. A bracket H is secured to the casing A and is provided with diverging arms H and H in the ends of which the haft G is journaled.

G indicates a pulley fixed upon the shaft G, while Gr indicates a pulley loosely mounted upon the shaft G.

J indicates the power belt which is adaptfed to be shifted from the loose pulley to the tight pulley, or vice versa, by suitable belt shifting means. I have shown in the drawings a belt shifting means comprising a rod K which is mounted to reciprocate in bear' lngs h and k projecting upwardly from the arms of the bracket H.

1c designates a pair of curved rods secured to the reciprocating rod K and engaging the opposite edges of the power belt J.

' O designates a circular plate surrounding the opening through the top of the casing A which is provided with a water guard 0.

P designates a cover which is pivoted by a hinge p to the plate 0 and when closed prevents access to the interior of the casing and the basket inclosed therein.

P designates a cam secured to, and preferably forming part of, the hinge portion p which is secured to the cover P, such ca being adapted to engage one end N 0 a lever N fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon a bracket a secured to the casing A. The opposite end of the lever N is provided with a counterbalance n so as to normally oscillate the lever N to a position below the lower end of a downwardly extending portion K of the belt shifting rod K. The position of the cam P is such thatwhen the cover P is lifted, it will engage the end N of the lever N and oscillate the latter, so that it will be elevated into a position in the path of the lower end ofthe depending portion K of the belt shifting-rod K in a manner which will be more fully hereinafter described.

Q designates a hasp fixed to thecover and having a depending portion 9 having an opening therein adapted when the cover is closed to be projected through an opening 0' in the upper end of a latch casing R. The latch casing R is secured in any suitable manner to the outer surface of the extractor casing A and contains a reciprocating latch S having a hook s at its upper end adapted to engage the opening in the lower end 9 of the hasp Q.

The latch S is provided with a rib s which engages within a groove formed between parallel ribs 7" on the inner surface of the front of the latch casing R. At the lower end of the latch S is a socket S suitably guided to reciprocate within the latch casing R and receiving the upper end of a spring T, the lower end of said spring being seated upon a bracket T fixed within the latch casing R.

t designates an anti-friction roller journaled in. the bracket T and over which passes a flexible connection, such as a chain, u, connected at its upper end to an eye a secured to the latch S within the chamber S.

thereof. The opposite end of the flexible connection his pivotally connected to theontcr'end of a rod u of a reciprocating piston U. The piston rod it extends through a suitable stufling box a in the upper end of acylinder U- in which the piston U is mounted to reciprocate.

U designates the lower end of the cylin der which is provided with an opening a communicating with the atmosphere.

:designates "a conduit communicating with the space Within the cylinder U above the pistonU and connected at its opposite end with a chamber 4) of a valve casing V. Extending axially through the valve casing connection between the chamber 21 and an exhaust chamber V which communicates with the atmosphere.

V designates a supply chamber with which communicates a conduit 2 leading from a source of fluid pressure, preferably compressed air. One end of thevalve stem W extends through a suitable stuffing box 1) carried by the supply chamber V The end of the stem W which projects through the stufling box is engaged by the upper end of a lever X' pivotally mounted upon "a bracket 00 projecting from the supply chamber V The upper end of the lever X is provided with an opening through which the valve stem W loosely extends, a nut, or other enlargement W, being secured on the end of the valve stem againstwhichthe end,

of the lever X will engage when turned toward the left in Fig. 8. The opposite end .ofthe valve stem W is provided with a rod 41: extending through the end wall of the exhaust chamber V and surrounded by a spring W interposed between the outer surface of the exhaust chamber and a stop to carried by the outer end of the rod '10.

The end of the lever X oppositely to that which engages the valvestem W is pivotally I connected to a rod X which extends through a supporting plate w yieldingly supported upon adjacent legs of the casing base B, by means of bolts X projectin outwardly from the adjacent legs an extendin through holes in the ends of the plate av springs #2 being interposed between the ends of the plates and the adjacent legs surrounding the respective bolts X The end of the rod X opposite to that which is connected to the lever X is secured to a circular band Y, which is interposed between two disks Y and Y rigidly secured to the spindle D of the basket.

Located within thecircular band Y and interposed between the disks Y and Y are Y when the'lever is thrown outwardly by a centrifugal force. A spring X surrounds the rod X intermediate of the plate w and the ring Y and is connected at one end to the said plate and at its other end to the rod X, the tension of such spring tending to draw ring Y to a position eccentric with relation to the spindle D.

The operation of our invention is as follows: Assuming that the belt shifter is in the position to locate the driving belt J on the loose pulley G as shown in Figs. 1 and 2-and that the cover I is raised, the articles from which the Water is to be extracted are placed within the perforated basket (I. When the cover is in its open position, the cam P retains'the lever N in position to overlie the lower end of the depending portion K of the belt shifting rod, and hence prevents the belt from being shifted to the tight pulley. The cover P is then closed, which oscillates the cam P away from the end N of the, lever N, and permits the weight n to swing the lever downwardly below the lower end of the depending portion K of the belt shifting rod. The rod K is then recipmcated toward the left in any convenient manner, as by grasping the depending portion K thereof, thereby shifting the power belt J to the tight pulley Gr and rotating the basket G through the me dium of the belt E and pulleys F and (Z. As the basket acquires speed the weighted levers X are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, inasmuch as they are carried by the spindle D. The outward movement of the weighted levers moves the circular band Y into a position concentrically around the spindle 1), thereby moving the rod X. toward the spindle and oscillating the upper end of the lever X toward the left in Fig. 8. This movement of the lever X reciprocates the valve stem \V toward the left so that the valve in thereon engages the seat v and dis continues the connection of the chamber 1) withthe exhaust chamber, so that the conduit V is no longerin communication with the atmosphere. This movement of the i'alve stein W also unseats the valve wso that the fluid pressure flows from the supply chamber V into the chambcri, and thence through the conduit V into the cylinder U above the piston. The pistonll is thereby forced downwardly so as to draw downwardly the latch Sagainst the tension of the spring '1, and cause the sainc'to engage the openingin the lower end of the hasp Q. As long the basket ci'intinues to .revolve, whether by the direct action of the driving power or by n'idinentum after the driving belt has been disconnected through the belt shifter,-the latch will be retained in engagement with the hasp. owing to the fact that the'band- Ywill "be maintained concentri caliy around'thespindle D through the action of the weighted levers X and thereby maintain the valves in positions to connect the fluid pressure supply with the motor cylinder of the latch. When the basket ceases to rotate, the spring X moves the band Y to the position shown in Fig. i eccentric to the-spindle D, and hence moves the rod X outwardly so that the spring WV reciprocates the valve stem'W to the position shown in Fig. 8, in which the valve w disconnects the fluid supply chamber V? from the chamber *0, and the valve w connects the. chamber -v with the exhaust chamber B thereby discontinuing the supply of pressure through the conduit V to the cylinder U and connecting the latter with the exhaust. The spring T then elevates the latch S so as to disengage the same from the hasp Q, and permit the cover P to be opened.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that we have invented improvements in centrifugal extractors, and similar machines, by means of which the covers are pneumatically locked in closed position automatically upon the starting of the machines. It will be further observed that the covers will be retained positively locked in closed position as long as the machines continue in motion, even after the disconnection of the drivin means therefrom. Actuation of the lock y fluid pressurev renders the same extremely sensitive, inasmuch as it is only necessary for the rotating spindle to operate the valve for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the latch operating cylinder.

ll'hile we have, illustrated and described our invention as embodied in a centrifugal extractor and have defined the same in the following claims with reference to such embodiments thereof, yet we do not Wish thereby to be understood as restricting the application of our invention to centrifugal extractors, but intend thereby ,to protectit for whatever uses it may be adapted and in whatever forms it may/be capable of practical embodiment. i i i What we claim is:

1. In a centrifugal extractor, the combina tion with a rotating member, of a cover for inclosing said rotating member, a fluid pres sure actuated latching mechanism for locking said cover closed, and, automatic means for mechanicallycontrolling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from said latching mechanism for actuating the same to lock the cover;- closed during the movement of said rotating member.

2. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotating member, of a cover for inclosing said rotating member, a fluid pres sure actuated latching mechanism for loclc ing said coier closed, valve mechanism for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid uessure to and from said latching mechanism, and means automatically operating said valve mechanism to effect the locking of the cover during the operation of the extractor and the unlocking of the cover when the operation of the extractor is discontinued.

3. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotating member, of a cover for inclosing said member, latching mechanism for locking said cover closed, a cylinder having a recip ocating piston therein to which said latching mechanism is operatively connected, valve mechanism for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from said cylinder, and means for automatically operating said valve mech anism to actuate said latching mechanism to lock the cover closed durin the operation of the extractor and to unlock said cover when the operation of the extractor is discontinued.

4. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotating member, of a cover for inclosing said member, a spring for automatically unlocking said latching mechanism when the extractor is not in operation, fluid pressure actuated means for operating said latching mechanism against the tension of said spring to lock the cover closed and valve mechanism automatically operated to supply fluid pressure to said means during the operation of the extractor.

5. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotating member, of a cover for inclosing said member, a spring for automatically unlocking said latching mechanism when the extractor is not in operation, fluid pressure actuated means for operating said latching mechanism against the tension of said spring to lock the cover closed dur-' ing the operation of the extractor, and valve mechanism automatically operated by a moving part of the extractor for controlling the supply of fluid pressure from a source thereof to said fluid pressure actuating means. r

6. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a rotating member, of a cover for inclosing said rotating member, a fluid pressure actuated latching mechanism for locking said cover closed, and means mechanically actuated by a moving part of the extractor when in operation for controlling said fluid pressure actuated latching mechanism.

7. In a centrifugal extractor, the combifor inclosing said member, latching mechanismvfor locking said cover closed, a c linder having a reclprocatmg plston therein to which said latching mechanism is opera tively connected, and valve mechanism ac-- tuated by a moving part of the extractor for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to said cylinder to actuate said latching'mechanism to lock the cover closed during the operation of the extractor and to unlock the said cover when the operation of the extractor is discontinued.

8. In a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a casing, of a cover for said casing, a rotating basket within said casing, means for rotating said basket, a latch mounted upon said casing for locking said cover closed, and fluid pressure actuated mechanism mechanically controlled by said rotating means for operating said latch to lock the cover closed during the operation when the operation of the extractor is discontinued.

9. In-a centrifugal extractor, the combination with a casing, of a cover for said casing,'a rotating basket within said casin means for rotating said basket, a late mounted upon said casing for locking said cover closed, a, spring for disengaging said latch from said cover, fluid pressure actuated mechanism mechanically controlled by said rotating means, and means operatively connecting said mechanism with} said latch to reciprocatethe same against the tension of said spring into locked engagement with said cover. 1

10. In a centrifugal extractor, the'combination with a casing, of a cover for said casing, a movable memberwithin said casing, drivin means for'operating said member, a latch f dr locking said cover closed, centrifu-' gal weights rotated by said driving'means, an element located in the radial path of said weights, and fluid pressure actuated means operatively connected with said latch conof said driving means.

nation with a casing, of a cover for said casing, a movable member within said casing, driving means for operating said member, a latch for locking said cover closed, centrifugal weights rotated by said driving means, an element locatedin the radial path of said weights, fluid pressure operated supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to from said fluid-pressure actuated mechanvalve mechanism and said element.

spindle upon which said basket is mounted carriedby said spindle, a laterally moving ring concentrically surrounding said weights and in the radial path thereof, fluid pressure with said latch, valve mechanism controltrolled by said element to actuate said latch. to lock the coverclosed during'the rotation 11. In a centrifugal extractor, the combi" mechanism operatively connected with said; latch, valve mechanism for controlling the and by which it is rotated, a latch for looking said cover closed, centrifugal weights of the extractor and to unlock the cover v ism, and means operatively connecting 12. In a centrifugal extractor, thecombiQ nation with a casing, of a cover for saidcaaing, a rotary basket within said casing, e

actuated mechanism .operatively connected 4 ling the supply and exhauslz' of fluid piessure discontinuance ofthe rotation of said to and from said fluid pressure actuated spindle. I mechanism, and nienns operated bysuitfiiing' WILLIAM BARTIIOLOMEW'. for controlling said valve 111ecl1 zni'isn 1' to FRITZ BA'LZER. I

5 effect the operation of said latch to locktho Witnesses:

cover closed during the rotation of'sai'd C. Inn-nay,

spindle and to unlock the cover upon the" R13. Wmm'zonn' 

